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Mathematicians

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeLower pressure

What they do

Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $126,710 Median per year · $60.92/hr Most earn $69,240–$195,190

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Conduct research to extend mathematical knowledge in traditional areas, such as algebra, geometry, probability, and logic.
  • Address the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.
  • Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
  • Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
  • Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
  • Develop computational methods for solving problems that occur in areas of science and engineering or that come from applications in business or industry.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service53.3%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools18.2%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences8.3%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing2.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Mathematician is not usually an entry-level job. Most people need a doctoral degree and often 1-2 years of research experience, so plan on about 8-12 years of school and training after high school. Along the way you can work in related roles that use math.

  1. Bachelor's degree in mathematics

    4 years

    You build a strong base in calculus, linear algebra, and proofs, and you can start doing undergraduate research that shows graduate programs you can do original math.

  2. Master's or PhD program in mathematics

    4-6 years

    You study advanced topics and write a doctoral dissertation with an original contribution, which is the main requirement for research math jobs.

  3. Postdoctoral Research Associate

    1-2 years

    You work as a researcher under a senior mathematician, publish papers, and build the track record that employers and universities look for.

  4. Mathematician

    Ongoing

    You conduct research in pure or applied mathematics and use math methods to solve problems in science, business, government, and other fields.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Mathematician

    5-10 years of experience first

    You lead larger research projects, guide junior researchers, and are known for significant results in your field.

  2. Associate Professor of Mathematics

    3-6 years in a postdoc or assistant professor role of experience first

    You teach, supervise graduate students, and run your own research program, usually after earning tenure-track positions and publishing steadily.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the highest-level math your school offersCourses like precalculus, calculus, and statistics build the foundation you will need for college-level math.
  • Join a math club or math teamWorking on hard problems with others builds your problem-solving skills and your confidence.
  • Enter math competitionsContests show you what it feels like to solve unfamiliar problems and can help you stand out on college applications.
  • Learn basic programmingCoding in a language like Python helps you test ideas and analyze data, which are common tasks in math research.
  • Tutor younger studentsExplaining math to others helps you understand it more deeply and shows you enjoy teaching, which is part of many math careers.

In college

  • Major in mathematicsA math major gives you proof-based courses like real analysis and abstract algebra, which are the core preparation for graduate study.
  • Do undergraduate researchWorking on a project with a professor gives you experience with open-ended problems and gives you a reference letter for graduate school.
  • Work as a math tutor or teaching assistantA campus math tutoring job builds your communication skills and deepens your own understanding of the material.
  • Join a math society or problem-solving groupGroups that meet to work on hard problems or hear talks from mathematicians show you the wider field and help you build a network.
  • Take a computing or statistics courseSkills in programming, statistics, or data analysis open doors to applied math work in industry and government.

Tips for getting started

  • Take as much math as you can, and try proof-based courses early, because graduate programs care a lot about how well you can reason through proofs.
  • Look for undergraduate research opportunities with a professor, since research experience is one of the strongest signals for graduate school.
  • Get comfortable with a programming language such as Python, because many mathematicians use computing to test ideas and work with data.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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